Apparatus with rotatable head and belt for supporting containers and with means for closing containers



March 30, 1948. E EIN 2,438,624

I APPARATUS WITH ROTATABLE HEAD AND BELT FOR SUPPORTING CONTAINERS AND WITH MEANS FOR CLOSING CONTAINERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Feb. 4, 1942 INVENTOR @{Z 54 6/75! 64,27.

March 30, 1948. K. STENGLEIN 2,438,624

APPARATUS WITH ROTATABLE HEAD AND BELT FOR SUPPORTING CONTAINERS AND WITH MEANS FOR CLOSING CONTAINERS Original Filed Feb. 4, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTOR EYS.

March 30, 1948. K. STENGLEIN 2,438,624 APPARATUS WITH ROTATABLE HEAD AND BELT FORY SUPPORTING CONTAINERS AND WITH MEANS FOR CLOSING CONTAINERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Feb. 4, 1942 INVENTOR .m m fijm MY 00 W a h 8 4G 9N S 2 .t T e R e O h P S. 4

March 1948. K. STENGLEIN APPARATUS WITH ROTATABLE HEAD AND BELT FOR SUP CONTAINERS AND WITH MEANS FOR CLOSING CONTAINERS Onginal Filed Feb 4, 1942 4 INVENTOR lain.

TTORNZY Patented Mar. 30, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Karl Stenglein, Saginaw, Mich.

Original application February 4, 1942, Serial No.

Divided and this application March 19, 1945, Serial No. 583,442

This invention relates to packaging apparatus and particularly to apparatus which is adapted to package material consisting of relatively small loose particles or material which is comminuted and in a substantially dry state, particularly in containers of the envelope type, and is a division of my application for Letters Patent of the United States on the same subject filed Feb. 4, 1942, and serially numbered 429,441, now Patent No. 2,376,289, dated May 15, 1945.

Objects of the invention include the provision of means progressively feeding envelope-like containers and progressively closing and sealing the flaps thereof; the provision of apparatus as above described together with means for closing and sealing the flaps of the containers after they have been filled; and the provision of apparatus of the type described in which the flap of the container is closed and sealed and maintained forcefully in closed position for a material length of time before it is discharged from the apparatus.

The above being among the objects of the present invention the same consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, and then claimed, having the above and other objects in view.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a suitable embodiment of the present invention and in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several different views,

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a packaging machine incorporating features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary, partially broken and partially sectioned side elevational view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2 and illustrating the construction of the reciprocable slide in greater detail;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 and illustrating the envelope closing and sealing mechanism for the packages;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational View of the switch mechanism actuated by reciprocation of the slide and employed for controlling the opening and closing of the material discharge valve; I

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the con tainers employed in the apparatus shown in the preceding views;

Fig. '7 is an enlarged fragmentary partially broken, partially sectioned side elevationalview 4 Claims. (Cl. 22656) of the material feeding and package opening and discharging portion of the apparatus with the control mechanism therefor, showing the same in greater detail; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary rear elevational view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7 and illustrating the nozzle pivoting mechanism.

The present invention particularly relates to apparatus for closing envelopes which have been filled with predetermined amounts of material which may consist of relatively small, loose particles or material which is comminuted and in a substantially dry state. The material measuring and feeding portion of the apparatus forms no part of the present invention but constitutes the subject matter of the patent application above identified and of which the present application constitutes a division. Accordingly it will be understood that the present invention may be employed in connection with the measuring and filling part of the machine herein shown by way of illustration or any other suitable type of measuring and filling apparatus that may be arranged for co-operation therewith.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly toFig. 1, it will be noted that the apparatus or machine there shown includes a frame or base of generally rectangular conformation including vertically extending corner legs 10 interconnected by lower cross-members l2 and upper cross-members I4. A floor-like support i6 is extended over and secured between the lower cross-members l2. Upon the floor I6 is supported and secured a gear reduction mechanism indicated generally at I8 having a horizontally directed in-put or drive shaft 2!! and a vertically directed output or driven shaft 22 projecting upwardly through the top thereof. The in-put shaft 2t? is driven by means of a pair of bevelled gears 24 and 26 from the out put shaft 28 of a second gear reduction mechanism 30 also mounted on the floor l6. The gear reduction mechanism 30 is provided with a drive or in-put shaft 32 carrying a pulley 34 which is driven from an electric motor 35 supported on the upper cross-members M, by means of a belt 38. The output shaft 28 of this second gear reduction mechanism 30 has fixed thereto a cam 40 provided with a single peripheral lobe 42. The function of the cam 40 will be described later.

Output shaft 22 of the gear reducing unit l8 has fixed to its upper end a supporting flange 44 which in turn supports thereon in concentric relation with respect to the shaft 22 a circular head 46 shown for the purpose of convenience in the form of a solid disc. As best brought out lelism with the corresponding portion of the pe-' riphery of the head 46 and surrounding and supported on such bent ends ofthe spacer members:

4-8 is a ring element 56 preferably formed from.

sheet metal and of a material depth as indicated.

The spacer members 48 and ring 50am of equal depth and materially less than the thickness of the head 46 and are located above the lower edge 1 of the head 56 and a material distance below the upper face thereof. Thus a pocket 52 is formed between each adjacent pair of spac'ers 46 1' between the periphery of the head 46 and the ring Eli and such pockets are open both at'the top and.

bottom thereof. As perhaps best brought out in Fig. 1 the head 45 is providedwith a peripheral groove 54 therein immediately'above its.lower edge and below the lower edge of the ring 50, the

purpose of which will hereafter be more fully described.

As brought out in Figs. 1, 2, and 4 and particularly in the latter figure a plate member 55: is arranged With its plane of thickness horizontal. and supported from the frame by means of suitable angle bracket 58. 'This plate'member 56. is positioned immediately below but preferably. outcf contact with the lower face of the head .45 and projects under the head 45 from an angular position, as best brought out in Fig. 4, slightly above the center of the head 46, as viewed in such figure, to a point angularly about theaxis of the disc in a counterclockwise direction of rotation as viewed in Fig. 4 approximately 45 degrees therefrom, the inner edge portion of theplate 56"being cut away along a curve struck from the axis of rotation of the head 46. underlies those pockets 52 located directly thereabove and serves as a means for preventing the envelopes from falling directlyi through the pockets when positioned over theplatefihaswill hereinafter be more apparent; 7

Supported between a pair of angle'members .60, extending between the front and rear upper The plate 56; thus cross-members l4 and directly above theaxis of the head 46 is an envelope hopper indicatedgenerally at 62. This hopper has sectioned ledges 64 projecting inwardly at the bottomof the'spaced side walls 65 thereof whereby to provide a bot: tom support for the envelopes which are received therein. The side walls are spaced from one another by a width corresponding with the width of the envelopes to be filled and one of which envelopes is shown in perspective at 63 in Fig..,-z6,.in

the condition in which it is received for filling;

that is with its flap in closed but unsealed condition. The envelopes 68 are placed in the trough or hopper 62 with their long dimensions vertical and with the flaps 19 at the upper ends thereof and facing towards the front of the machine.

connected to the follower block 12 by means of a cable 16 passing over suitably supported sheaves 18 and as brought out'in Fig. 2.

Each side 66 of the envelope hopper 62 has fixed to its forward end an angle member 82 one fiangeofwhichdies inzflat contacting relation with respectto'the outer. side face of such side member 66 and the remaining flange of which extends across the forward end of such side member 66 and projects inwardly a slight distance beyond the inner facesthereof as best brought out in Figs. 1 'an'd l. These .members 82 thus project into the path'of movement of theouter edges of the envelopes'fiafin their passage through the hopper .62 and prevent the envelopes from being ejected from the hopper under the influence of the weight "acting through the follower block 12. It will thus be appreciated that each envelope 6% in turn is-presented in fiatwise relation at the forward end of the envelope'hopper 62 with the flap iii of: each envelope at the-upperend thereof and facing towards the 'front'of: the 'machine;

The.=flap lll'of each envelope Gil-must, of course,

be'opened'before material can be discharged into the envelope,- and' to effect opening of the flaplii of each envelope as'it is advanced in turn to the outer end of the-hopper 62 the following mecha nism is'provided; As- 'best-illustrated in Figs. 1,

2 and 7 a tube 84 is provided with a flattened end forming a nozzle 86 and the nozzle end of the tube V The tube 84 is connected to'a suitable sourceoi air under pressure and interposed in. the length of the tube 24 is a valve 88, shownin Fig.1. As there indicated the valve' 88" is provided with a control arm 90 pivoted between its ends to the valve at 92 and the pivotal. position .ofwhich controls the opening and: closing=of the valve 8%; A coil-spring 94"tensioned between one end. of the arm 90. andv one-of the' frame sidememb'ers' l4,

as illustrated inFig: 1, constantly: urges the. arm 90 towards .a closed-valve position; The opposite end of thearm 90--is.provided with a roller 1% mounted thereonzwhich-rides on theperiphery of thecam 40= Whentherollertfi rides .on that portion of the periphery ofthecam .49 angularly beyond the lobe 42 thereof the spring. .94 serves tohold the valve 88 inclosed position. When the lobe rotates to a positiontinwhich. it engages the roller 96*it acts therethrough topivot'the arm 90 to a position-in which the-valve 88:is opened and; therefore permits the'iiow of air therethrough to the IlOZZlBiBfiJQThBlObG 42being of a relatively small angular extent-thus serves to momentarily openthe :valve 88 during *eachrotationofzthe .cam '40.-" .When the-valve 881s thus 7 opened by. the lobe 42 of the camt40, the air rushes through the tube 84:and*is discharged from the nozzle 86 against the forward face 'of the foremost envelope -68-intheihopper 62 and, flowing inwardly and upwardl ;over the face, of such envelope;.strikes thewflap HI thereof and forcefully blows it to the open position-illustrated in Fig. 7. 4 This opening of theflap ifiofthe leading envelope -68-'is,;of course; timed'with' otherropera tions of the machine which WiILfihereina'fter be brought out;

Forv supplying material:.toitheenvelone E8. to. a I

box-like hopper 100 having an open top is supported in spaced relation above the upper frame members I4 and forwardly thereof by means of a spaced pair of channels I02 which, in turn, are supported from the front and rear cross-members I4 by means of vertically extending legs I04 as best brought out in Figs. 1 and 2. The hopper I00 is positioned with the plane of its rear face, as viewed in Fig. 1, approximately in the plane of the forward end of the envelope hopper 62 as best brought out in Fig. '1. Further the hopper I00 as best brought out in Fig. 1 is positioned with its righthand marginal portion directly over the envelope hopper 02. Also as best brought out in Fig. 1 the front wall of the hopper I00 stops short of the top of the hopper I00 so as to facilitate the loading of the hopper with material from the front thereof.

The hopper I00 is provided with a vertical slot I06 in its rear wall extending from .the top to the bottom thereof in vertical alignment with the envelope hopper 02 as viewed in Fig. 1, and a slide indicated generally at I01 is reciprocably associated with such slot. In the particular construction of the hopper I00 shown it is assumed to be made of wood and of substantial wall thickness. As best brought out in Fig. 3 the slide I01 which is of substantially the same width as the slot I00 and is slidably received therein comprises a wooden member I08 having a metal forward face plate I III, the combined thicknesses of which substantially equal the thickness of the rear wall of the hopper I00. In order to guide the slide I01 for vertical sliding movement in the slot I00, keys H2 are inserted centrally in the opposite side walls of the slot I00 and project into such slot, the member I08 being provided with cooperating grooves for slidably receiving such keys I I2 there- The slide member I08 is provided with a relatively large groove H4 in its forward face and over the length thereof and the groove H4 is closed over its length by the plate III] except at that position thereof adjacent to the bottom of the hopper I00 where it is cut out over the width of the groove II4 as indicated at IIB in Figs. 3 and 7. An additional plate member II8 is secured to the inner face of the rear wall of the hopper I00 over the height of the slot I00 and is provided with a flange I20 securedto the adjacent side wall of the hopper I00. The plate II8 thus serves as a means for rigidifying that corner of the hopper I00 in which the slot I06 is formed. Also as indicated in Figs. 3 and '7 the plate I I8 is provided with an opening I22 therein extending upwardly a short distance from the bottom of the hopper I00 and a width corresponding with the width of the groove H4 in the slide. The material with which the hopper I00 is loaded and which comprises small particles of or comminuted dry material I24 is thus free to flow through the opening I22 in the plate II8 and through the opening H0 in the slide I01 into the hollow interior of the slide formed by the groove -I I4 and through which it may flow downwardly to the lower end of the slide. The slide I01, of course, reciprocates during operation of the machine and this movement of the slide aids in jarring the material I24 down over the opening I22 in the plate I I0 and into the groove I I4 of the slide, the opening H6 in the slide being in overlapping relation with respect to the opening I22 in the plate II8 at all times so as to permit the free flow of material into the hollow interior of the slide.

As best brought out in Fig. '1, the lower end of the slide I01 is cut off at an angle and the discharge of material therefrom is controlled by a valve I30. The valve I30 comprises a flat platelike member pivoted at I32 between its ends to a bracket I34 fixed to the plate member IIO adjacent the bottom end thereof. That end of the valve member I30 outwardly of the slide I01 from the pivot I32 thereof is provided with a roller I30 which serves as a weight to constantly urge the valve member I30 into flat contacting relationship with respect to the lower end of the slide I01 so as to close the slide to the discharge of material through it. The means for actuating the valve I 30 will hereafter be explained.

In order to effect reciprocation of the slide I01 a double armed lever I40, as best brought out in Fig. 1, is pivotally mounted between its ends on a pin I42 suitably-fixed to the rear wall of the hopper I00, so as to swing in a plane parallel to such rear wall. A link I44 pivotally connected at its opposite ends to the righthand end of the lever I40 as viewed in Fig. '1 and to the slide I01 serves to interconnect these two parts for simultaneous movement. The lefthand end of the lever I40, as viewed in Fig. l, is connected by means of a link I40 with a pin I40 projecting outwardly from a side face of the cam 40 in offset relation with respect to the axis of rotation thereof. Consequently rotation of the cam 40 effects reciprocation of the link I40 which in turn effects oscillation of the lever I40 and reciprocation of the slide I01. The link I44 is preferably adjustable in length so as to enable the limits of reciprocable movement of the slide I01 to be adjusted up or down through adjustment of the length thereof. It may be noted at this point that inasmuch as the slide I01 and the air valve 08 are both controlled through operation of the cam 40, they are, therefore, controlled in timed relation with respect to each other;

In order to control the material control valve I 30 the following mechanism is provided. A vertically extending rod IE0 is supported in a bracket I52 secured to the right-hand face of the hopper I00 as viewed in Fig. 1. It is vertically adjustable in the bracket I52 and may be locked in vertically adjusted position by means of a set screw I54. At its lower end the rod I50 has fixed thereto a laterally extending arm I56 which supports thereon a magnet I58 having a U-shape field element or structure I50 fixed thereto and an armature I60 movably associated therewith. As best brought out in Fig. 1 the rod I50 has adjustably secured thereto by means of the set screw I 64 a second laterally projecting arm I66 the free end of which, as best brought out in Fig. '1, has fixed thereto a vertically directed cross-bar I68 extending both above and below the same. A link I10 is pivotally mounted between its ends to each of the opposite ends of the cross-bar I08 for movement in a vertical plane. The links I10 are normally inclined downwardly and to the right as viewed in Figs. 2 and '7. The lefthand ends of the links I10, as viewed in Fig. '1, are pivotally connected together by a connecting link I12 which in turn is pivotally connected by means of a link I14 with the armature I00 of the magnet I50. The opposite ends of the links I10 are pivotally connected together through a plate-like track member I10 arranged with its plane of thickness perpendicular to the plane of thickness of the aforementioned links. That portion of the plate member I10 extending between the connected free ends of the links 1 H8 is straight r and ver i lelism with the linkl'lZ so-asto provide'foreparak lel motion: but its upper end above the point of its pivotal connection'with the upper linkflfi Y and the armature use thereoi'drawn downwardly with respect to the field structure 559 of thenmnmost limit or=its reciprocable-=position.* -'For aclinks H 1 "and 1'42 will turn "the .links *1 H: in a small amount of pressure only will, be needed --'to return these parts to the position indicated H is arranged in cooperative relationship with -=l3fi-controiling the flow of material 1124 from -the slide E87. Its relationship is such that when the magnet 55%? is not energ a w c -W To control the s'witch I80 the -following mechthe roller i38-in pressing against the track'memher 5'58 will press the track member Ht inwardly 'to causeclockwise rotational movement of the j links E79 as Viewed in 7 as the slide 1871, rial-'inwertical-alignment withithexcontactsclM movesdownwardly and carries the roller 136 over roller E isnot sunicient to effect the-above -describedfunction, then suitable springmeans 43% and the slide lil'l to assist the weight of the roller l 36 in this respect. On the other hand, ii themagnet its is energized, then the track Hi5 will be shifted to the right from the position illustrated in Fig. '7 to the-position mus-r whereby; to h ezthezcircuitzthrouglrithe magnet slide l8? moves downwardly from the upper-limit of its reciprocable position the roller 136 will strike the angularly directed end 418 of the "track 416, an-J. the m net 1- 8 being-bf I '--1ever-hav1n adownwardlyi directed armslfifizand ficient strength to withstand the force of' the roller I38 on the track Hi5, the roller 36-will be forced to ride over the face of the plate or I track i'lfi and in so doing will cause the valve conditions, may be varied by varying the vertical position of the rod. E58 and consequently @the =ve'rtical position of the. track. member; H5. the. point-in the reciprocable movementofethe slide lfi'lat which thematerial,va1ve:.l3il;opens i, i may be readily adjusted to; correspond with: any 5;soutwardly;ofytha arm: l-8fiamoves upwardly and particular desired-.an1ount oi materialelt l which reciprocable movement; thereof,

: Willbe appreciated that if ,the magnet 58 was; ;7

energized at allutimes when the machine; was 1 operating: thenthe-material waive tglSii would I he opened while. the slide; l fi'i-wasv approaching the lower limit: of. its movable position:;and;.a1so while it was r moving .away from: such. positidnrz'lliobetmeen :rthe cQ Q WEK Y :iexienqinse ends? 05/ th 7 a s 7 tica-lly :disposed :inpara1- l't is preferredto closethe valve l fsflaas itzreaches 1. :approximately ltswbottom=limitor areolprocable --mo vement' inorder to-"cbtain-gmore accurate 'con- I trolr'of the.- volume 'of'z material idischarged from is-hent to the left as indicated-at-l-lS and :as 1 5:- =the=;sli-de.

viewed in Figs. 2 and '7. i V 'I he"closingpfithewalveWSflat the bottom limit It will he apnreciated from theioregoingdeof reciprocable movement 'ofthe slideE m1:iseacscription' that when the 'magnet I53 isenergized "complishedby de-energizing the: magnet l-58 at :or about the time'the' sliderl fl l zreaches tlre lowera complishing this =result.-.a switchfin'dicated gen- -erally--at l:80=. in Figs". =2. and '5,e.is located at the rear *corner of =the hopper l-flll adjacent -the slide magnet,-the armature ltd acting throughthe direction which will move the plate or track member i'lt outwardly away from the 1 pivotal :points l82- eachof-=iwhich rcarriesa contactgpoint 184 in cooperative and opposed relation with.-.respect to the other. The spring arms Inland-contacts in- "Fig. '7 i 184 are-so positioned and arran-gedi thatawhen As best-brought out in Fig. 7 the plate or track, free ofsexternal infiuences the 'oontacts tBl-rare arrang'edin spaced relation withcrespect.itoreach I other. .asillustrated in rliigi The; a ms U182 rare connected inseries with? .theumagnet valrfiiiapreviouslydescribedn and that when the magnet E58 is tie-energized a respect to the roller iii-Ii on the valve member dition of the magnet let is illustrated in Fig. '7, anismis providedgsag wathe -switchsltw 8,n:3,1m 4-85 is pivotall'y secured ito thel sidewall-f the hopper l 00 at s I 88, its .uppe i;surface the arm 'ltecarr-ies a button l9fi-iofainsulation matei and in a: position to contact the lower face ofrthe the track member lit. If the weight'of'the lower arm l B2-A tension spring'slj92 -.cooperates (not shownlmay be associated between the valvea 5- directi of m v m tea wiewedain 'l 'igg 5qand, therefore, -towa=r-cls a position in:.-:whichi-.the a-rm tacts trated in Fig. 2 under which conditionsas the 45a nd,'rtherefore,=. place?theitrackomembersflfi in its operativeposition. 7

above-the" switch flifl and armetSB: is arbellcrank "free end ofthe armrlziifi extends downwardlyato a constantly urges theabove:describedrbellcrank'in point 194 as-sviewed ain iz Fight)v iandmvhenomoved -=to --the- =limit-=iof lts-:morementdmsMhi direction to maintain the button tQILout-iof contact with e V -the lower switch arm .t82.i?WhemihQwever; 151115 and, therefore, opens the valve 63% under such 0 :tion ofmotation tagainst: thesforcesofnt isnrin 212110.. and .away: from::suc "movement; asuto the posi onrillustrated bydotted linesyin :Fig- 5;;then' -the; intmf contact between the;arma lflfirandgthe a orr v r. l r m-shif i Thus .zthen permits the-spring 1.92: ,tolmove, the arlmjflfi is to beldischarged from the slide duringgeach 1 .=.-toibringrthe.flontacts;llikintoren a fimentwith .each0th.er.

'eBoth the smear-lever";lBfirandthe rearw rdly xtendinglermsHi8; iitheebe lcranhprojectr .s wardlyebeyqn ecrearnace of the ll pp w 1; ias .illustrateda Fig-,5. a A;-epchannel-;sectioned zmfimberwzolr is Encode-to the .1j .ear. face ,of the, slide members! fl lzand wextcnds ilatera yetc 3111 5 10 With the construction thus far described it 107, Asbest broughtout in Ffigl'fiithe -switch between the links iifi and the crossebarilfifi w wll isprovid e with a pair of parallelespringarms between thefiarmi I 86 andthechopperzalzllllito :con-

stantly 'urge" the arm ill-86.411 a. counterclockwise 1 l 85 will act through-the butt-ouch!)nitor..springzthe V lower arm 182 zupwardlwandstoFbring. 12118536011- 184 into engagement with 'each other -P-ivotally mounted-. on the..hopper olilflgat i194 -positionin= which it is engageable with zthezupper surface 0f thearm aI186.leAiwcoilrspring 2005312611 "139m pivot about its pivot Point-432 in a txlidsioned betweenvthe armcLBBsand lthezhoppersl-flfl 1 -wisedirection'of rotation as viewed in Fig. '7v and thus uncover .the lower end of thei'slide l'iilso as tO- permit the discharge of material :l24 through such lower end of 1 the'slide. This .is the relation. of partsjllustrated.in'iFig. 2x11: 111L 5uthecengaagement of.1;he;-fregg-end Ofi the termed-96 beaappreciated, however, that, the 'point in the" reciprocable movement of the slide lEllBat which :the -.roller' G35 engages the track 'memher ill;

' a directiomof'clockwise:movementzaboutiitszpivot of th'e' bellcrank with: the r'arm 'or everel 86:;serves -bellc'rank iszrotatedain a.:countercloclcwise=;,direc- V imio:ofilri slclockwis 9 bellcrank arm I98 and of the arm or lever I86. It is thus in a position where it may engage such rearwardly extending ends as it approaches the opposite limits of its reciprocable positions,

The operation of the above described mechanism is as follows, The position of the mechanism as illustrated in Fig. 5 is the position it assumes when the slide I8! is moving upwardly, As will be apprec ated under such conditions the switch I88 is in open circuit position and, accordingly, the magnet I58 is de-energized and consequently the material valve I38 is closed. As the slide I8I moves upwardly the member 282 will engage the free end of the bellcrank arm I98 and as the slide continues its upward movement this engagement will forcefully cause the bellcrank lat-I98 to pivot towards the position illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 5, so that just before the slide I87 reaches the upper limit of its reciprocable position the spring I82 will have been enabled to swing the arm I 88 toa position in which the contacts I84 are brought into contact with each other, thus closing the circuit to the magnet I58 and positioning the track member I16 in a position to engage the roller I36 and to open the valve I88 during the ensuing down stroke of the slide I 8?. The force of the spring I92 is greater than that of the spring 288 so that during the ensuing down stroke of the slide I81 and because of the friction between the lower end of the arm i88 of the bellcrank and the arm or lever I88, the bellcrank will retain its rotatable position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 5. Thus the magnet I58 will remain energized during the downward movement of the slide I81 and until such time as the member 282 fixed to the slide approaches the bottom limit of its reciprocable position upon which the member 282 will contact the rearwardly extending end of the arm Hi8 and will press it downwardly against the force of the spring E82. This action of the member I82 has two effects, the first of which is to separate the contacts I84 thus to break the circuit to the magnet I58 and permit the material valve 38 to close, and, second, to permit the spring 288.

to swing the bellcrank to the position indicated in full lines in Fig, 5 thereby to lock the arm I88 against upward movement during the ensuing upward stroke of the slide.

Thus the mechanism provided as above described is such as to close the circuit to the magnet I58 during substantially the entire down stroke of the slide I81 and to break the circuit to such. magnet during substantially the entire up-stroke thereof. Thus, the valve I38 is closed during the entire up-stroke of the slide and is opened only during that portion of the down stroke thereof that the roller I38 is in contact with the track member I18, As previously mentioned inasmuch as the track member I78 may be adjusted vertically to vary its point of engagement with the roller I36 during the down stroke of the slide, it will be appreciated that the time element during which the control valve I38 is opened during each complete cycle of operation of the device may be varied to obtain any predetermined volume of discharge upon each stroke of the slide that is desired.

order to introduce the material I24 discharged from the slide I87 under the control of the valve ii int-o the envelopes 88 the following mechanism is provided. A spout or nozzle member 2H3 is pivotally mounted adjacent its upper end by means of a pin 2 I 2 to the rear face of the slide member I 88 adjacent the bottom end thereof. The spout 2I8 is provided with an enlarged funnel-like upper .end which surrounds the lower end of the slide I81, as well as the cooperating end of the valve I38 when the slide is at the upper limit of its reciprocable movement. The lower end of the spout 210 is cut off On an angle to impart a downwardly and inwardly pointed end to the same. As best brought out in Fig. "7 the pivot pin 2I2 is 'so arranged that the lower end of the spout 2 I 8 is movable towards and from the front end of the envelope hopper 82. The stroke of the slide I81 and consequently the spout 2I8 is such that when at the upper end of its reciprocatory movement the point 2 of the spout 2I8 is above the upper edges of the envelope' 88 in the hopper 62 when the flaps i8 thereof are closed, but is below the upper edge of the upturned flap ID of the foremost envelope 88 which is the envelope which is to be filled upon the next downward stroke of the nozzle. When the spout 2I8 is at the bottom limit of its vertically reciprocable movement the point 2M approaches but is short of the bottom edges of the envelopes 68 in the hopper 62.

The point 2M of the spout 2I8 is intended, on its downward stroke, to enter the open upper end of the leading envelope 68 after which the valve I38 is opened to discharge the material I28 through the spout 2l8 into such envelope 68, all of such material thus fed to the spout 2I8 either being discharged into the leadin envelope 88 either during such downward stroke or additionally during the ensuing r p-stroke. In order to insure the point 2M of the spout 2I8 thus entering the open upper end of the leading envelope 88, the spout 2 I 8 is constantly urged by spring means in a counterclockwise direction of movement as viewed in Figs. 2 and 7. This is accomplished by means of an upwardly extending arm 2I8 fixed to and projecting upwardly from the rear face of the spout 2I8. At its upper end the arm 2E6 has pivotally secured thereto by means of a pin 2I8 a rearwardly extending arm 228. A pair of springs 222 and 224 which will hereafter be more fully described constantly urges the arm 228 bodily forwardly, or to the left as viewed in Figs. 2 and 7, thereby'to urge the spout 2I8 to pivot about its pivot point 2I2 in a counterclockwise direction of rotation as viewed in Figs. 2 and '7. A further function of the springs 222 and 228 will hereafter be described and means which will also hereinafter be described are provided for limiting the counterclockwise movement of the spout 2 I8 so that when the spout 2 I8 is at such limit of its pivotal movement the point 2M thereof will be lightly but relatively firmly pressed in the forward face of the outermost envelopeBB in the en velope hopper 62. One thing that is important to note is that the pivot pin 2I8 for the arm 228 is arranged in perpendicular relationship to the axis of the pin 2I2 for pivotally supporting the spout 2l8 so that the arm 228 is pivotal in a plane parallel to the axis of the pivot pin 2I2 for the nozzle 2| 8.

There are two features which are relied upon for discharging the filled envelopes from the hopper 82. In the first place it will be recalled that the envelopes 88 are held against inadvertent discharge from the hopper 82 by means of the members 82 which project inwardly from each side 86 of the envelope hopper 62 and engage the outer marginal edge portions of the leading envelope 88. The spout 2") being relatively thick in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the envelopes 68 in the hopper 82, it will be appreatwheo hes out; e itist roiee zd wno o t. the:oo napup erre d oi t e .eedin envelepe; l m thehpppei guZ1i-t,-w il1: serVo-to.- sepaeet r-t e i ontp n eek wellsofi heie ve op and thus lecrees its letemldilne io parti ul r y ehove t el w r; ndsther oh sefi tlyito a lo thezsio s of; :t e eove n z o rm ev reely; prweed-1m between t e opos dz es :of 1- the-memher 2. ihust eu per'port o of-t e ve o isa'reed :-@1te1ees ro t ho pe efil, Th low end -:o hhe-;e!1 V Q Q is w r, n s xe'edim deo ea ed i 21 1 3 Gi Q US end- 1i Q d.6? Q?1f l S thi zend: f: t e ve o e nd; t positive y: eject; the :en 'r .-;en e1on =witem: h hopper 62 the spout: 2 ;lilll-is:;ceused to pivot; for-- wandlye hout ifiS PWOt in: :ZJZ oithus to ee l y Withd: wr-ri e.=l adine env ope fro th hopp 5, upon which -the envelope; is fireeto droppff th snout J ounder-t influenc 20f e evit 1ilmt eebisoad re po soit e en n noae fie eooewhe h rr he snou 0 s those e oomt toeie ethe..1,eed ne envelo e hopee 52-r-when=the spout 2- flineers V o of its downward stgoke =omeftenit has t sted eeveito y 1; on ts; imyve s re T esslet p sett em nt; yp e e i hi tha tal owsor time f oi herefliie o heisn l to remie o-th z n l fie en z lsq h e he t-h sbe n some th t: he me er lzflowssmore :trs y-,- ;r m

tot he ind rs eo ho-rieht nds-ch nn k me b t ifi xeszv we rfizom th e t f e-meo -i it hez ow ne m hani m-h s r vi -r Aebie b thow -r Ei s a 8- i e ppe :s nd.'o sth :le d nefin elooe i jth h ppen; filendqbe projeetejd lalmost to the'h ottom h ??-Q :Wh mt e no t l 0 reach t bott nd ofits stigolge es v -e hove d eso1{ibed the erm zzo is-jhe pivoted-toslide the rollers 2&3 across the bottqm ..me h r of he 321 65233 en brin t efthend :roll l-i "a i nm t {with h I s eimemben 2 1 en ;-in oizo e w it h -re dg -thereof so; thateduring the ensuing upward Strpkgsgchfoller 24!! will ride up, overtheyreer ed he pen E w a position esx-e nt o ed; reb Whl'i'j the erm 220;. is'thus shifted et "the bottom end of the stroke ofthe slide Hl'ithedefthand "thee-member; 235: end ill maintain :the

rol 12%; me eeei-ngz t e: e r s eiofithe me 3 xW 1; r seneeee; e reiehtlow r p tion 'thez eof. l As the slide MW-moves upwardly oeigrying theserm-22ii endenol'lers see therewith th elefthendiro l -i fla will en e the ,c m-

Whichwill pullthe erm;;22fi=bodily -to the right esav wed in 1 st: 7. and s quently the pp r end ;ofi=the at-m, 2518 tozthei ight and cause the spout 1:2-3!B to pivot in;-a.- c1ockWisesdirection. of

' m mories viewed in Fig; 7 from its normel vertioa1 ;-position. At-- .the time, such pivotal movementofthe spout 2-H occurs its pQintZM. is still 7 Well within; theinteriorJof the leading envelope 58 end, thereiore, acts; to forcefully 'disengage such-leading envelope from the hopper: 52 and move, it outwerdlyrfrfom the front end thereof. Whemthis occurs the-envelope'whichpof course, is, weighted"with=the-meterial [24,15 free to; drop ofiof the spout 2:1; flpundersthe influence of gravity. The slide alil'l needs'toj moveonly a short. dis- 7 tense; upwardly-to 'movemhe; leftha'nd roller: 2%

edseteei ermq tee tio e h e ith e eeatwero vs t ndin e-cemi-p t o The-em .2?t'h seiv twemo nte hee-e ns f e 3" nets-m m he e w hi h-i e eete tto le eo-the n r: lees (if-t e mem e Zita-11d $35..

1 s ec tedtqeneeeer er a e seo the righthand member 234 during the downward leote eent; -..;the s1 ;:J-fihemhs t Z a the lefthee H ;0-;-tq:, eeeees he-jneer l d etpfiheile th h .imemh r' e idu ihe upwar vmove lee s hete z t e h when imee -h c sein W zeneee m t w t i ice e -o eiee sid v moeeh r iho vtfli esth casev 'm y be. -The eeeiehtwe z o e i the-r a edees f h er -Zeke erei-prefe eb v Qf r e ith t th no s1 ed Megn. u ng-th SPQETFMD in e ountero e; -di eot. 9n-.. of lro ations iewed til l ie imit-suchmovementmithespout Th -iiieh hen ero l e 2: 0? s v ewe 1 as'viewedimFig; SoVer'the'cam 2-38 and as it passes over the cam the springs'222.an'dfifiaimmedieltely; drewsuoh roller into contact, withthe roi htqupper portion ofthe member e35 thus V n si i nyan from the side. member- 236 to the side member 2:34 when it reaches the i upper limit o i-ltsjreoiprooei-ble positionwill now be described; A; pei-r of-preairwerdly extendingarms 250 land 252 are fixed at their forward ends to thebottom an top, respectively, of the frem'e233. At their rearends the armslfifl and 252 are fixed to the bottom and top, respectively, of a plate member 254 arranged Withits pleneof thickness parallel to thetplanesof thickness of'the side s 234- and 23.6 of the. frame 233 and I'nidwey therebetween.

Theiplaltetmembei ;254:;is4in such a, position that f its:-;forwa edserroiects towar -1y of the rear end-30f thez arm -220i:9x031 175?*fiiswtfipna ldr1301350 1 whereit is cut away asgat 256.;and 258, -respectively, top rmit the re r endrof the arm-1Z6: to swing transversely-:therethroush -froin-one,;,sidc of :the IIIBIIIhfiI'g'254 tome-opposite side thereof. Theforward edge of the memberfiiis so shaped and: spaced-from the reamedgesof;thenwalls- 23! and .1236 as :to provide ample "clearance for the rollers 240.

Referring now..to-Eig. 8 -it-.will be;no.tedrthat the spring-. 224. is .anchorediat its .upper end on an arm .IZGDJ'IQrm-ing -.a1 lateral extensioneof the arml252'; anmprojecting to the. left as: viewed in Fig.18,-.=while the. lower.=endsoftthegspring 2322 extends in the opposite "directionaandiis 'fixed'to one of the legs 1M. "=Thus '.the.:anchor-point; or the upper. end-,of the spring -2M- israpproximatelyonzthe' level with the upper end or: the: frame 233' and to 1 the .alefta thereofiwhile the :anchor point :forthelower endof-thespring 222- -is=approximately-ion the. level ofJthe lower endof the frame 233 and to theright thereof. "It. will thus be J appreciated that: when; the spout :"21'0 and consequently-the arm 22fl -are adjacent the-lower limit: of .their -reciprocable: positions the spring 222 will be extended a :m-in'imum' amount and the spring" 224-will -beextended a maximum amount and conversely; when the spout 2 H3 is at the upper 1 limit f "its --reciprocable position andconsequentiy the arm 220 is at-the upper end ofth frame 233 thespring 222- will be extended a,- maximunramount and the spring 224 a: minimum-amount; The-springs '222- and- 224- are so arranged-:that-when the" the arm-22li and particularly the-rollers 2 are in a mid-position between their oppcsitelimits of vertical travel they exert an equal force onthe arm 220. "Consequen-tlyiwhen the arm 1 220' and rollers 240 are at their-bottom -limit of movement the spring 224- wi-llexert agreater force tending to swing the arm 220 about the pivot--pin-"2l8 than the spring 222-an 1--when-at -the upper limit of their vertically movable'posi-tions the spring ZZZ-will exert a greater force.- than the spring" 224' tending topivotthearm 220 about its 'pin 2 l 8.

As: a result of the foregoing construction it willbeappreciated that when the arm: 22!! and rollers-240 move upward-ly'and' downwardly with the spout 2H the force-of' the-springs222 and 224 vary, but -inasmuch as the rear end of the arm-220 is engaged-on either-one 'or the other sideof the-plate--member 254" it -cannot shift laterally under" theinfluence of the Y springs 222 and 224-except when'itreaches the limits of -its verticallymovable position at which time it may shift from oneside-of theplate 254 -t0the-other side thereof througlrthe-cut-out portions 255- or 258 of the plate 254. Inasmuch as the tension of the spring 222 is greatest when-the spout 2H3 isat' the upper "limit. of its; reciprocable position the force of the-spring 222 wi-ll overcome the force of the .spring 224 and causethe. arm 2253 to be shifted to the right as viewed irr Fig. 8-so as tobring it through the cut-out-iportion: 255 of the plate member 254 and, therefore, tothe-right side thereof:v asmiewedtin Fig. 81in which; position. of .the arm 220 the righthand roller 2% will: engage'the rear edge. of the frame side member 234. andzthexllezfthand roller-2M} will be free of engagement with the? frame side member -236. As: the: =spout2 lii'then: starts its ensuing 1 down: strokezthe rear. end of the arm 2 2|] will be located: to:v the right .ofothe .righthand faceof the l plate member 125.4 as 1 viewed'inrFlig. -18 so that-inspite of the fact thatthe strength-pf the spring222 decreases duringsuch downward movement" and the force of the spring 224 increases, vthe arm 220 cannot swing-in response thereto and the righthandroller 240 will be maintained in engagement with the rear edge of the frame side member234.

Similarly, as soon as the spout Zliireaches the downward; limit of its reciprocable position, the force of the spring 224 being greater than the correspondingforce of the spring 2212 atsuch time, it will cause the arm 22s to be pivoted to the left as viewed in Fig, 8 so as to move the rear-end thereof through the cut-out portion 258 of the plate member, 254 thus to bring the lefthand roller 24% into engagement with therear edge of the frame side member 235 and disengage the righthand roller 24!] as viewed in Fig. 8 from the. rear edgeof therighthand frame side member" 236. Similarly during the ensuing tip-stroke of the spout 2M} the rear end of the arm 22!} will nowjbe blocked off by the lefthand face of the plate 254 as viewed in Fig. 8 whichwill maintain theleithand roller 24B in engagement withthe lefthand frame member 235, as viewed inFig. 8, until thespout 250 again reaches'the upper limit of its, reciprocable position at which time the spring '222-wil1 again cause the rear end of the arm;22ii to be shifted through the cut-outpertion 256 and to return the parts to the position first above described. The lefthand roller 24$ in travelling upwardly in contact with the rear face of theside member 236 will first pass up- Wardlyalong the straight lower portion thereof and; will then encounter the cam 238 and ride upwardly, over it and then engage the straight upper portion. In riding. over the cam 233 the roller; 24!] :in-contact therewith will act through the arms. 220 and 2H5 andwwillr cause the spout Elli-etc pivot in a clockwise direction of rotations-as viewed in Fig. '7 about the pin M2 and thus forcefully withdraw theleading envelope 58 from the hopper 62. It. will be appreciated that, at the timethe spout 2MB is thus pivotedv an appreciable length of the spout isstill inserted'within the leading envelope 58 so that it has ample purchase on the leading envelope 58 to withdraw it from the envelope hopper. Any material remaining. in the spout 2H1 at the time it starts its upward movement is, of course, fed out of the spout into the envelope andwhen the spoutpivots forwardly to release the envelope, the envelope is free to drop under the influence of gravity from the spout and, any material remaining in the spout will be discharged into the envelope at such time. The earn 238 being reltively short, it will be appreciated that the spout 210 willreturn to its normal vertical position before the lowerend of the spout reaches the upper; edges of the envelopes in the. hopper t2 and will serve to maintain the flap It of the next leading envelope in open position. It will thus be. appreciated that the above described mechanism operates automatically to normally maintain-the spout 2 iii in a vertical relation but such as to causethe lower end or point of the spout 2m to be kicked forwardlyduring its. upward movementand during a predetermined. phase of such upward movement and be maintained in its vertical relation during its entire downward movement.

It is to be th c if! of the envelope E8 in the h 2 blown to the uprightpos strated Fig. 7- at the. time the: spout 2 i ii is/ pivotedou-twardly in the valve 88' is opened only during the interval that the spout H6 is in its outward pivoted position. The air from the nozzle 86 is, of course, fed against the flap E6 of the leading envelope until the spout 266 returns sufiiciently to its upright position to maintain such flap 16 in its upright'position without the aid of the blast of air.

The drive for reciprocating the slide 16'! and the spout 2H) and the circular head 46 are so timed that an envelope 63 is discharged from the hopper 62 each time one of the pockets 52 becomes aligned with the forward end of the envelope hopper 62. In order to guide the envelope thus filled by and discharged from the spout 2A6 into such aligned pocket a chute 216 is provided. The chute 216 as best illustrated in Figs. 4 and '7 is formed from sheet metal into generally channel section and is arranged to receive the filled envelopes 68 as they fall from the lower end of the spout 2 l 6 and to slidably direct them rearwardly or towards the center of the head, 46 and into the particular pocket 52 aligned therewith at the front of the machine as indicated in Fig. '7.

The chute 276 is suitably supported by means of lope. The upper edges of the envelopes so resting on' the plate 56 extend a material distance above the upper edge of the ring 56 and, of course, as received on the plate 56 the flaps 16 thereof are opened. Means are provided, in accordance with the present invention, for binding the envelopes 68 to the periphery of the head 46, that is to the inner wall of the corresponding pockets 52, moistening the adhesive on, closing and sealing the flaps l6, and then eventually discharging the envelopes from the pockets 52 and head 46.

In order to thus bind the envelopes to the periphery of the head 46 an endless belt 216, preferably in the form of a stretchable rubber element is arranged in encircling relation with respect to the head 46 above the ring 56 and this belt 2? 6 at the front of the machine is trained over a pulley 218 supported in forwardly spacedvelope 68 in thus being discharged from the chute 216 to the pockets 62 drop into the pockets between the belt 2'l6 and the periphery of the head 46. However, it will be appreciated that as the head 46 rotates and carries the envelopes 68 around therewith in the pockets 52, as soon as the envelopes reach that point at which the belt 216 normally contacts with the periphery of the head 46 they will be clamped by the belt to the periphery of the head 46, in other words against the inner walls of the corresponding pockets 52., The tension of the belt 216 is sufiicient to maintain the envelopes 68 in firm engagement with the peripheryof the head 46 so that after the envelopes 46, at which time they will fall by gravity out of their corresponding pockets 52 and into a suitable receptacle which may be provided below the head 46 for receiving them. The belt 216 which is preferably driven with the head 46 simply through frictional engagement therewith, thus serves to automatically bind the'envelopes 68 to the head for the closing and sealing operation and then discharge them from the machine.

In order to close and seal the flaps 16 of the envelopes 68 a water tank 266 is supported on the plate. 56 at a point in the rotational movement of the head 46'shortly after the belt 276 clamps each succeeding envelope to the head 46 during rotation of the latter. The tank 266 is provided with a wick or brush 262 immersed in the water therein and which projects therefrom into en gagement with the periphery of the head 46 at a height thereon at which the flaps 7B of the envelopes are positioned in travelling around with the head 46. In other words, the free end of the wick or brush is positioned to contact and moisten the adhesive on the flaps 76 of the envelopes as the latter are carried around by the head 46. The wick or brush 262 is of a character which absorbs andpicks up the water in the tank 296 by a capillary attraction so that as each flap E0 of the envelope 63 passes between it and the periphery of the head 46 the adhesive thereon is moistened The flap is extends angularly downwardly and rearwardly therefrom and then horizontally as at 296. The

lower end of the downwardly extending portion of V the strip 294 and the forward portion of thehorizontally extending portion 296 of the strip 264 extends partially over the upper face of the head 46, as best brought out in Fig. 4, and inia position in which these portions engage thefiap ll] of eachenvelope 68 in turn as it passes therebefore and bends such flap outwardly. The horizontally extending portion 296 is twisted in a direction to bring its outer edge downwardly gradually and is curved into conformance with the periphery of the head 46 so that after the flap l6 2 of each envelope is initially bent and moistened it is caused to be folded over into closed position against the corresponding face of the envelope, in other words into closed position. The

rear end of the-strip 264 preferably resiliently presses such flaps inwardly toward the periphery of the head 46 and this is readily accomplished as will be appreciated because of the length of the strip 264 and the fact that it is supported at its forward end only.

As the envelopes 68 in rotating with the head 46 pass beyond the rear end of the strip 294 their flap ends successively engage a pluralityof rollers 306 which firmly press the flaps 16 against the envelopes in order to insure the eifective sealing'of the same. The rollers 366 are rotatably mounted upon arms 302 the opposite ends of which are suit ably pivotally secured to the adjacent frame cross-member l4, and a coil spring 364 is ten? sioned between each arm 382 and the frame member I4 to constantly and resiliently urge the corresponding roller 388 towards engagement with the periphery of the head 46. As many of these rollers 388 may be employed as desired but the number shown in the drawings has been found ample in most cases.

After the envelopes have passed beyond the rollers 388 it will be appreciated thatthey are maintained in position against the periphery of the heads 46 for an appreciable length of time before they are released therefrom by the belt 276 and dropped into a suitable receptacle. It has been found that this time element is ample to insure sufiicient setting of the adhesive before the envelopes are dropped into the receptacle to prevent inadvertent opening of the fiaps thereof.

It will be appreciated that with the apparatus thus far described that inasmuch as the material valve I38 is actuated during each reciprocation of the slide I81 material will be discharged from the spout 2| 8 .during each reciprocation of the slide regardless of whether an envelope 68is or is not positioned to receive the material. Consequently and inasmuch as the machine is in tended for continuous operation without the constant presence of an attendant, it will be appreciated that it is desirable to provide some means to shut off the machine when the supply of en velopes 68 in the hopper 82 inadvertently becomes exhausted or for any other reason an envelope should fail to be presented in a filling position at the front end of the envelope hopper. The means provided for shutting oif the machine in such event is as follows.

As best illustrated in Fig. 2 a relatively long and angularly bent strip-like arm 3I8 is pivotally mounted between its ends on a vertical pivot 3I2 on the upper surface of the plate 56. The inner end of the arm 3I8 is aligned with and is adapted for projection into the peripheral grooves 54 in the lower part of the head 86, but when the envelopes 68 are being successively fed to the pockets 52 as they rotate below the chute 218 the lower edges of these envelopes, in bridging the groove 54, hold the rear end of the arm 3I8 out of the groove 54. The forward end of the arm 3I8, as illustrated in Fig. 4, projects forwardly of the front edge of the plate 56. To such forward edge of the plate 56 and as best brought out in Fig. 2 an angle bracket 3M is secured and to the vertically directed outer face thereof an arm 3I6 is pivotally mounted between its ends for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis. The lower end of the arm 3 I 6 carries a mercury switch 3 I 8 which, is connected in series with the driving motor 36. As best illustrated in Fig. 1 the mercury switch 3I8 is oifset to the right from, the pivotal axis 328 of the arm 3I8 so as to exert a constant force tending to rotate the arm (H6 in a clockwise direction of movement as viewed in Fig. 1. This movement of the arm 3I6 is limited by contact thereof with the outer end of the arm 3I8 as best brought out in Fig. 4. The relationship of these parts is such that when the rear end of the arm 3 I 8 is maintained out of the peripheral groove 54 of the head 46 through engagement with the lower portions of the envelopes 68, the switch 3I8 is maintained in closed position and consequently the motor 36 may operate without interruption. However, should an envelope 68 be missing from one of the pockets 52, then as such pocket comes into alignment with the inner end of the arm 3H] such inner end of the arm will drop into the bottom of the groove 54 of the head 4'6 causing the arm 3I8 to pivot in a counterclockwise direction of movement as viewed in Fig. 4 and permit the arm 3I6 to swing under the weight of the switch 3I8 to move the switch 3I8 to open position,

' thereby stopping operation of the motor 36 and consequently the entire machine. The switch 3 I 8 is illustrated in open position in Fig. 1 as in such figure it is assumed that no envelopes are present on the periphery of the head 46. The magnet I58 for controlling the material valve I38 is connected into the electrical circuit for the motor 36 behind the switch 3! so that in event the switch 3I8 is opened at a time when the material valve I38 is opened the magnet I58 will be de-energized and permit the valve I38 to close thereby to prevent continued discharge of material from the slide From the foregoing it will be appreciated that in operating the mechanism above described the hopper 62 is loaded with envelopes and the hopper N18 is loaded with the material to be inserted therein, the main switch to the motor '36 is closed and the operator simply holds the switch 3I8 in closed position until the machine has progressed far enough in operation so that the filled envelopes, if fed without interruption, maintain the switch 3I8 in closed position. Upon setting the machine in operation the cam 48 in rotatin efiects reciprocation of the slide I81 and spout 2 I 8. t will beappreciated that when the machine is first loaded it may be necessary to manually raise the flap 18 on the first envelope 68 if such envelope is to be filled, depending upon the initial position of the spout 2 I8, and thereafter as the spout 2I8 reciprocates its point 2I4 will be inserted in the upper end of the leading envelope in the hopper 62, will move downwardly therein and discharge material thereinto and at the same time withdraw the upper edge of such leading envelope from between the stop members 82, and as. its travel is reversed and it moves upwardly the spout will be kicked forwardly to forcefully release the filled envelope from the hopper 62 which envelope, will then drop off the spout 2I8 into the chute 218. As the spout 2 I Upivots forwardly to thus release the leading envelope 68 from the hopper 62 the cam 48 will actuate the air valve 88 to direct a blast of air through the nozzle 86 against the flap I8 of the next envelope in the hopper 62 thus to move such flap to opened position in which it will be held when the spout 2I8 resumes its vertical position after the previously filled envelope has dropped off of the end thereof. The spout 2I8 in moving upwardly will maintain the flap of the first envelope in opened position so that during the ensuing down stroke its point 2I4 will enter the open upper end thereof to repeat the above described operations. The amount of material I24 which is discharged each time through the spout 2I8 into an envelope 68 as above described will, of course, be controlled by the valve I38 which in turn is controlled through the plate member I16 and the latter of which is in turn controlled by the switch structure illustrated in Fig. 5, and by the vertically adjusted position of the magnet I58, so that any desired amount of material may be discharged into an envelope during each reciprocation of the nozzle 2I8. The envelopes which are thus filled and discharged from the hopper 62 are fed into the pockets 52 of the head 46 where the flaps are moistened, closed and sealed and then delivered into a suitable receptacle after a sufficient time element to insure the maintenance of the sealed relation of the flap. All that is necessary to insure continued operation of the'machine is to keep the hoppers B2 and 100 filled with envelopes and material, respectively, and-in the event the supply of envelopes in the hopper 62 becomes exhausted before it is noticed by an attendant and re-filled,'theimachine isstopped so that the material in the hopper I will not be uselessly discharged upon the fioor.

Having thus describedmy invention, what I claim by Letters Patent is:

:1, In apackaging machine, in combination, a

circular head rotatable about its vertically positioned axis, means for rotating said head, means for delivering envelopes with their flaps in open positiontosaid periphery of said head, continuous belt means surrounding said head in peripherally engageabl'e relation with respect thereto over :an

angular extent of less than 360 forclamping said envelopes in succession tosaid head forsupport and movement therewith, means for moistening said flaps, means for closing said flaps, means for pressing said closed flaps against said envelopes to efiect sealing of thelsame, and said third mentioned means being operable to release said'envelopes from saidhead aftersaid'sealing has been effected;

2; In a packaging'machine, in combination, a circular head rotatable about its vertically positioned axis, means for rotating said head, an end- ,lessbelt surrounding, said head in the plane of thickness thereof and radially outwardly-spaced from said head over a portion only oftheperiphery thereof, means for delivering'containers having open'flapsto the periphery of said head betweensaid periphery and said belt at that area thereof over which, said belt is'spacedfrom said ,headji'or movement with the periphery, of said head, wherebysaid containers are carried between said belt and periphery and clampedby said belt in supported relation to said periphery, and means associatedwithsaid head operable to fold said flaps against andseal saidflaps to said containers while clamped between said'belt and said periphery V, v V V 3. Inapackaging machine, in combination, a

circular head rotatable'about'its vertically positioned axis, means associated with said head forming a plurality of pockets open at both top 2 and bottom extending in angularly adjacent relation to each other. around the periphery thereof, 'means for, delivering envelopes with the flaps 7 thereof open in succession to said head and for reception one at a time in said pockets, an endless belt. surrounding said head in the general plane ofthickn'essthereof and above said pocket forming means, said belt engaging said'head except over that area ,thereofat which said envelopes 20 are-delivered to said head andover which, area said belt is radially outwardly'spaced from said head,meansforsupporting saidenvelopes in said pockets from the point of delivery thereof to said "head to apointsubsequent to that atwhich said envelopes are clampedto said head by said belt said envelopes in rotating with said head being clamped between and supported by said belt and said head, and mean-s'for moistening, closing and sealing-the flaps of said envelopes while clamped 'betWeen-said'belt and said head;

4; In a packagingmachine, in combination, a circular head rotatable about its vertically positioned'axis and formed to provide a plurality of pockets open both at their tops and bottoms angularly arranged around the periphery thereof, a

belt surrounding 'said' head in contact therewith r and in the general planeof thickness thereof and radiallyspaced therefrom over a portion-offthe periphery thereof only, means for feeding containers having open flaps to' said pockets-within that area of said head over which said belt is spaced from said head, means below a portion'of the periphery of said head for supporting envelopes delivered to said pockets and moved with said head from the point of reception of said envelopes by said pockets to the point of engagement of said 'belt with said head in the direction of rotation of saidhead, said envelopes when so supported projectin-g above said-pockets to a positionin which they become engaged between said belt and the periphery of said head; during rotation of said head whereby tobe clamped to and supported by said head by said belt without requiring additional support, and means for closing said flaps-against and sealing them to said containers while so clamped between said belt and said head.

KARL S'IVENGLEIN. REFERENCES CITED j The following references file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS are of record in the V 

